Prototype Tim Mills' Photos

[djparkins]

Scimitars were infamous for requiring 1000 hours maintenance for every flying hour!
Mark

Yes. I only ever saw pairs parked up there. Never flying. A while after this the sea vixens arrived with that lovely array of colour schemes which (if you model aircraft) Model Alliance covered on a decal sheet released around the time the Airfix SV 48th kit was released. 2-3 subjects on the sheet were of Hurn-based machines.

 

[Roger Pound]

I have a reference that shows 30112 being allocated to Bournemouth (71B) throughout from 1948 to withdrawal in 2/63. Once again, I cannot vouch for the accuracy and other references may show variation, but it may just help. I certainly saw this loco and photographed on a rather grey and wet day it at Bournemouth Central near the loco shed. The date is uncertain, but was 1952-ish. I was a young lad with a simple box-camera and a lot of ambition, but little knowledge of photographic technique! The picture is not of sufficient quality to appear any where except my own album as a happy memory.

Roger

 

[daifly]

According to The Book of the M7s by Peter Swift, 30112 was allocated to:
1906 Kingston
1931 Guildford
1937 Nine Elms
1948 Bournemouth
1950 Bournemouth
June 1962 Guildford
Withdrawn Feb 63
Scrapped Eastleigh Apr 63

Dave

 

[MarkR]

while after this the sea vixens arrived with

There used to be a Sea Vixen displayed on a roundabout in Christchurch, I think they were built there.
The Vixen was the last aircraft to take off from Tarrant Ruston airfield before it closed, between Wimborne and Blandford, Flight Refuelling were converting them to pilot-less target drones. When the airfield closed they moved to Hurn, where they remain.
Many apologies for thread drift!!
Mark

 

[Andrew]

Thank you Dave @Dave Holt for explaining the alternative route to Poole. Although I visited the Bournemouth area quite a lot as a youngster I never investigated the possible routes to and from places so that is useful information as is the comment by Adam @AJC . I appreciate the thought about the Yeovil U as well.

David @djparkins - most helpful additional info and and with Mark @MarkR the potential starting of a rabbit hole regarding Hurn Airport too. Keep 'em coming!

Your comment about 75027, Tim @timbowales is very apposite - we'll shortly be moving to the S & DR which I wanted to keep to myself until we start there but there's no harm in a trailer, is there? And while we're discussing 75027 I have to admit that, due to downright laziness, I didn't check the full history of the loco and made an assumption (which would probably have been correct for 95% of our preserved locos), so thanks for the correction and memories Martin @Martin Shaw and for the additional bit, Arun.

We're not quite on the S & D yet but getting close!

Here's 35021, New Zealand Line entering Poole on a train from Bournemouth on 8th June 1962 overtaking what I believe to be a Standard Class 4 2-6-0. 35021 had been a Bournemouth engine since June 1957 and was withdrawn at the beginning of August 1965. It was scrapped in October the same year at R S Hayes/Birds, Tremain Yard, Bridgend. (WHTS and BR Database).

View attachment 222244

This is original Battle of Britain 34061, 73 Squadron approaching Poole Station with empty stock on 8th June 1962 and passing an LMS 4F 0-6-0 - the first real sign of what's to come even though here still quite firmly in Southern territory. 34061 was allocated to Eastleigh in November 1961, moved to Exmouth Junction in November 1963 and back to Eastleigh in July 1964 where it was withdrawn in mid August the same year. It was scrapped during March 1965 at P Woods (Shipbreaking), Queenborough, Kent which information I believe came from the now defunct Rail UK. BR Database endorses this date. The Railway Observer advises it went to Settle Speakman and Co, also referred to as Woods at Queenborough in February 1965.

View attachment 222245

M7 30112 on a freight train at Poole on 8th June 1962 although I suspect the loco is actually shunting. The information about the loco here is a bit confusing as it’s shown as allocated to Guildford in April 1951 and then again in April 1962 but with no allocation between. Then it was apparently allocated to the Western Region in January 1963 and withdrawn in February. (SLS). In any event the RO advises it went to Eastleigh Works where it was cut up week ending 6th April 1963. BR Database agrees with the month of scrapping. This is such a routine, everyday shot of the time now all gone

View attachment 222246

Brian

Hi Brian,

Memories, memories - my old school, Henry Harbin Senior, in the distant background and the rear of Poole Town Football Stadium ( also Poole Speedway track ) behind 30112. I spent many a happy hour both on the station platforms and very occasionally on the footplate of this loco when it was shunting the yard ( when nobody in authority was around obviously! )

Many thanks, keep em coming.

Andrew

 

[hrmspaul]

57XX pannier tank 9763 complete with shunters truck on a transfer freight at Reading on 5th June 1962. It had been a Reading loco since at least 1947 but moved to Old Oak Common at the end of August 1963 where it was clearly not wanted as it was withdrawn a month later. (SLS and BR Database). It was observed on 20th October 1963 in Swindon Works and in C Shop on 24th November 1963. (WHTS). It was scrapped in the same month. (BR Database).

View attachment 222075




Brian

I wonder what a Conflat L was doing in Reading? More usually associated with steelworks etc. (after the raft of vans LMS, LNER, LMS, BR, LNER)

Paul

 

[timbowales]

I wonder what a Conflat L was doing in Reading? More usually associated with steelworks etc. (after the raft of vans LMS, LNER, LMS, BR, LNER)

Paul

In a recent issue of Steam World, that I no longer have, a Conflat L was pictured at Sudbrook, could it have been on its way there?

 

[djparkins]

There used to be a Sea Vixen displayed on a roundabout in Christchurch, I think they were built there.
The Vixen was the last aircraft to take off from Tarrant Ruston airfield before it closed, between Wimborne and Blandford, Flight Refuelling were converting them to pilot-less target drones. When the airfield closed they moved to Hurn, where they remain.
Many apologies for thread drift!!
Mark

There was but it got vandalised. I had a great affection for Christchurch Aerodrome where, as you say, the Sea Vixens were built - as l had my first flight there as a kid in a Dragon Rapide! Also used to love watching the gliders getting launched out over Mudeford beach. I’d better shut up now!

 

[Arun Sharma]

Arun
Scaynes Hill indeed, it must be 50 odd years since I was last there. I haven't lived in the SE of England for a long time but do I correctly feel that the Weald of Kent and Sussex is a lot less rural than I remember?
Martin

I only went to The Sloop once [somewhere between 1974-76] with a friend who lived in Keymer. I remember taking a picture of the place at the time - Here it is:

 

[LarryG]

.....it's a shame that the sun was in just the wrong position to hit the front of the loco.

A bit late to the party.... Shadows can always be lifted thanks to photoshop... I agree it is a neat composition.

 

[Barry37]

In a recent issue of Steam World, that I no longer have, a Conflat L was pictured at Sudbrook, could it have been on its way there?

Calcium carbonate (e.g. from limestone) is, apparently, one of the chemicals used for paper making, so could have been going to Sudbrook Paper Mill.
Colthrop Board/Paper Mill at Thatcham wasn't far from Reading, so that's a closer possibility as a destination.
Also used in beer making, so Simonds Brewery (it merged with Courage in 1960) is also a possibility - it had moved out of town to the new site visible from the M4 in 1980 (this closed c.2010 - when owned by Heineken)

(Edit to correct clarify ownership of Simonds, and date of move to M4 location - h/t Graham Bastin)

 

[John Palmer]

I love the composition of this one but it's a shame that the sun was in just the wrong position to hit the front of the loco. BR Standard Class 4 2-6-0 75027 on a local train at Bournemouth West on 8th June 1962. This was a loco that moved around a lot. At the time of the photo it was a Templecombe S & D loco and had been since February 1960. It moved to Machynlleth in November 1962, then Croes Newydd March 1963, Bank Hall February 1965, Skipton November 1966, Carnforth February and then Tebay in May1967, back to Carnforth in January 1968 where it was withdrawn the following August right at the end of main line steam. It went to Woodham’s at Barry and details of its career thereafter are at 75027. Edit: Not a Woodham's engine - see 75027

View attachment 222206
Brian

From the sun's position likely to be the 11.40 SX Bournemouth West-Bristol. An S&D timetable institution dating from at least 1936, in earlier years this train ran beyond Bristol as far as Gloucester, and to Derby Fridays Only. Called at principal Dorset stations, Templecombe and Evercreech Junction, but thereafter latterly non-stop to Bath, so on what passed for a semi-fast schedule on the S&D once it had entered Somerset - indeed in the Summer 1948 WTT it is described as an Express!

 

[oldravendale]

Some excellent stuff here again, including a short diversion down the rabbit hole and thanks to all contributors.

Dave @Dave Holt - your comment about the geography of Poole is much appreciated. The file description for each is now updated.

Mark @MarkR, David @djparkins. Thanks for the info about the aircraft at Christchurch and Hurn. We visited Christchurch and Mudeford a lot in the late 1950s and onwards but I don't remember the aircraft very well. Obviously a lack of observation on my part. It's so distressing that a small minority of our society feel it's OK to vandalise anything which may give others pleasure rather like graffiti, another form of international vandalism which I personally find so ugly. And I don't include the proper murals in that concern. However, it's not regarded as a crime against the person so absolutely nothing is done about it. Also, Mark, you refer to the Sea Vixens going to Hurn but they're not still there, are they?

All in all a most interesting diversion.

Thank for that allocation info and lovely memory of an M7, Roger @Roger Pound . Thanks also to Dave @daifly for further clarifying the allocations. That now makes perfect sense. Another memory of the way things were from Andrew.

Thank you, Paul @hrmspaul for the question about the Conflat - perhaps it's an indication that pretty well any wagon could be found almost anywhere! Then Tim @timbowales and Barry @Barry37 for some possibilities.

Nice pic, Arun - I might even have been there without remembering the name.

Not late at all, Larry. That's a significant improvement so thank you. The day will come when I can spend some proper time on getting the very best out of each of the really good photos and this will be one of them. For the moment you'll have to suffer my quick and less than perfect renditions. And I really appreciate that extra information about the photo, John @John Palmer .

M7 30111 on a Swanage to Wareham train approaching Corfe on 8th June 1962. The second shot is a view from the train. This is another funny so you may be able to help clarify the real allocations, Dave @daifly . The SLS and BR Database state it was allocated to Guildford in 1951 with no other allocations until it was withdrawn in January 1964. It was reported by the RO as seen in store at Nine Elms on 24th June 1964 and then by WHTS in store at Eastleigh in September the same year. The RO report it as sold to Ward’s, Britton Ferry and WHTS that it was observed in transit in October 1964. The scrapping date is given as October 1964 by BR Database.





8th June 1962 and a view from the train hauled by Rebuilt West Country 34046 Braunton nearing Poole with at least twelve on. The loco had lived at Bournemouth since March 1959 coincident with the rebuild. It was withdrawn in October 1965 (SLS) and went to Woodham Bros at Barry. Thereafter see 34046 Braunton (SR 21C146, BR s21C146 & BR 34046)



In this one Braunton is leaving Poole on the 2.24 train to Waterloo on the same day.



BR Standard 2-6-0 76057 at Poole on the 2.43 train to Bournemouth on 8th June 1962. The loco was allocated to Bournemouth in November 1959 and withdraw in October 1966. It was scrapped in July 1967 at Cashmore’s, Newport.



Brian

 

[AJC]

The second shot is the bridge under the Norden tramway, one of the narrow gauge clay operations on Purbeck, once home to the WHR’s ‘Russell’ and by the time of Tim’s picture, diesel operated by Rustons. The bridge is still there at the southern end of the Swanage Railway’s Norden terminus.

https://flic.kr/p/nSXrex

It's now part of the Purbeck Mining Museum project (which is rather good): About Us – Purbeck Mining Museum

Adam

 

[MarkR]

In the picture of Braunton about to go over the Poole High Street level crossing, the row of shops above the carriage roof,
at one time housed a model railway shop, Geoff Barlow Models, I would often go there. Just opposite was an excellent second hand book shop, I remember buying some very early editions of the “Observer's Book of Aircraft”.

 

[MarkR]

Mark, you refer to the Sea Vixens going to Hurn but they're not still there, are they?

Long gone alas, FR Aviation now operate French Falcon jets, often flying in pairs over our house, heading out over Lyme Bay.

 

[daifly]

M7 30111 on a Swanage to Wareham train approaching Corfe on 8th June 1962. The second shot is a view from the train. This is another funny so you may be able to help clarify the real allocations, Dave @daifly . The SLS and BR Database state it was allocated to Guildford in 1951 with no other allocations until it was withdrawn in January 1964. It was reported by the RO as seen in store at Nine Elms on 24th June 1964 and then by WHTS in store at Eastleigh in September the same year. The RO report it as sold to Ward’s, Britton Ferry and WHTS that it was observed in transit in October 1964. The scrapping date is given as October 1964 by BR Database

The same reference book as above gives:
1906 Nine Elms
1931 Bournemouth
1937 Guildford
1948 Bournemouth
1950 Bournemouth
Jan 1964 Withdrawn

Dave

 

[oldravendale]

Thank you Adam @AJC . The photo you've included locates the position of Tim's precisely. I remember seeing the signs to the Purbeck Mining Museum when I was last at Norden a few years ago but we didn't visit - I was with my cousin and her husband who don't have a great interest in industrial archaeology and the use of the railway was to get us in to Swanage which it did most effectively.

That's a nice bit of additional information, Mark @MarkR which adds a bit of social colour to the photo. Thanks too for updating the info about the Sea Vixens and the current state of play at Hurn.

Finally Dave @daifly thanks for the detail about the M7. It's strange that the data on BR Database is so lacking but I guess that at the time the web site was set up this information was a bit more difficult to come by.

Moving on to the S & D proper with these pictures. There seems to be a special style to many of the pictures I've seen of the S & D by other photographers and Tim has often captured the character perfectly.

Rebuilt West Country 34042 Dorchester on a Bournemouth to Weymouth train at Poole on 8th June 1962. It was a Bournemouth engine from June 1956, moving to Eastleigh in September 1964 where it was withdrawn in October 1965. (SLS). The RO report it as being seen at Buttigeig’s, Newport on 8th April 1966 and being seen being cut up on 23rd September 1966.



Standard Class 4 4-6-0 75071 taking water at Sturminster Newton on 8th June 1962. The loco was allocated to Bath Green Park in June 1956 and then Templecombe S & D in November 1962. It was in store in June, reinstated on the LMR in July and allocated to Croes Newydd in August, all in 1964. It went to Stoke in June 1967 and was withdrawn the following August. (SLS). It was scrapped at Bird’s Long Marston at the end of February 1968.



The same loco at Templecombe S & D leaving for Bath on 8th June 1962. However, I believe this train is leaving the S & D bay at the SR station where trains left on a curve down to the S & D tracks - I remember it from a trip I did myself at around the same time when travelling from Seaton in Devon to New Milton near Bournemouth - Seaton to Seaton Junction, Seaton Junction to Templecombe, Templecombe to S&D/reverse to Bournemouth West, Bournemouth West to Bournemouth, Bournemouth to New Milton. It took all day but what a joy!



9F 92245 entering Sturminster Newton with the Pines Express on 8th June 1962. It had only just been allocated to Bath Green Park during the 4 weeks preceding 30th June 1962. In October it went to Oxford and then Southall in November, both in 1962. It was stored in November 1964 and withdrawn in January 1965. It then went to Barry and will never see full restoration although the boiler is to be used – see 92245



Brian

 

[djparkins]

In the picture of Braunton about to go over the Poole High Street level crossing, the row of shops above the carriage roof,
at one time housed a model railway shop, Geoff Barlow Models, I would often go there. Just opposite was an excellent second hand book shop, I remember buying some very early editions of the “Observer's Book of Aircraft”.

Didn't the ever-dapper Dudley Dimmock have that shop for a while also? I know he had one in Westbourne for a period.

 

[MarkR]

Yes, I think Dudley Dimmock was involved at some time.